TORONTO (Nov. 19, 2024) – With today marking the official anniversary since launching on this day in 1999 at the Hockey Hall of Fame, the National Hockey League Players’ Association is pleased to recognize the 25th anniversary of NHLPA Goals & Dreams. This season, the players’ charitable program will donate more than $600,000 worth of complete sets of new hockey equipment to deserving youth in grassroots hockey programs all around the world. G&D will celebrate this silver anniversary through various donations and events throughout the next year.
“Ever since NHLPA Goals & Dreams started in 1999, the players have always valued the importance of giving back so that many more children worldwide can play this great game,” said Marty Walsh, NHLPA Executive Director. “As we celebrate G&D’s 25th anniversary this season, we attribute a large amount of its success to player involvement coupled with the exceptional work of both our staff and the recipient grassroots programs. We look forward to building further awareness of the players’ program as we drive more donations and events to bring the game to more youth in the years ahead.”
On top of the anticipated dozens of equipment donations, NHLPA Goals & Dreams has contributed over $100,000 to Kids Help Phone for the third year in a row of the Assists in Action initiative, and G&D will give $150,000 to a Smilezone project in the Edmonton area this season.
“Outfitting children in new equipment so they can learn and enjoy the game of hockey is something we're proud to be a part of with NHLPA Goals & Dreams. I'm glad the players can continue giving back in a meaningful way,” said Cale Makar, NHLPA member and Colorado Avalanche defenceman.
The focus of NHLPA Goals & Dreams primarily remains on donating full sets of new hockey equipment to deserving children. In 25 years, G&D has donated over $26 million towards supporting grassroots hockey programs around the world. More than 700 NHL players have been actively involved in donations since 1999, and tens of thousands of children have been provided with the opportunity to play hockey. Along the way, children have enjoyed unique experiences at G&D donation events featuring NHLPA members each season.
“It's important that we are able to provide youth with more opportunities to get into the game through equipment donations. We're glad to keep this player tradition going strong 25 years after NHLPA Goals & Dreams began,” said Aleksander Barkov, NHLPA member and Florida Panthers captain.
To honour this special occasion, NHLPA Goals & Dreams is using a special 25th anniversary logo across all materials, including youth jerseys given to recipient programs and t-shirts sent to the full NHLPA membership.
Player Involvement:
Several current NHL players have been involved with an NHLPA Goals & Dreams donation, including Jake Allen, Aleksander Barkov, Sergei Bobrovsky, Robert Bortuzzo, Brent Burns, Bowen Byram, Logan Couture, Charlie Coyle, Sidney Crosby, Noah Dobson, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Matt Duchene, Anthony Duclair, Lars Eller, Radek Faksa, Anton Forsberg, Bo Horvat, Zach Hyman, Ross Johnston, Mathieu Joseph, Darcy Kuemper, Adam Lowry, Zack MacEwen, Cale Makar, Mike Matheson, Mitch Marner, Ryan McDonagh, Brandon Montour, Josh Morrissey, Darnell Nurse, William Nylander, T.J. Oshie, Mikko Rantanen, Cole Perfetti, Neal Pionk, Ryan Reaves, Jason Robertson, Nick Robertson, David Savard, Mark Scheifele, Brayden Schenn, Brendan Smith, Reilly Smith, Nick Suzuki, Brady Tkachuk, Devon Toews, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Nathan Walker and Mats Zuccarello.
The following players are participating in G&D donations this season:
Pierre-Luc Dubois – A significant equipment donation will be made this season to the Pierre-Luc Dubois Foundation, which continues its predecessor’s legacy (formerly known as the Vincent Lecavalier Foundation) by vowing to support young athletes in regional communities who do not have the means to play.
Ondrej Palat – In October, during the NHL Global Series games in Prague, NHLPA Goals & Dreams announced a donation with Palat of $20,000 in full sets of new hockey equipment to HC Frydek-Mistek Youth Academy. Twelve children from the Youth Academy attended each game and wore G&D jerseys on the ice during the pregame and some were treated to a meet-and-greet with Palat after watching a New Jersey Devils’ practice.
Ross Johnston – Johnston and NHLPA Goals & Dreams donated 20 sets of equipment to Hockey PEI, valued at $10,000, to support grassroots hockey in the province where Johnston grew up playing minor hockey.
Brandon Montour – Montour worked with NHLPA Goals & Dreams to donate 50 sets of skates, helmets and gloves to Tilbury Area Public School where he previously graduated to help restart their skating program that will be known as the Brandon Montour Skating program.
Aleksander Barkov – NHLPA Goals & Dreams announced a donation with Barkov of $20,000 in hockey equipment to Tappara Ry Hockey Program during the NHL Global Series games in Finland. Twelve children attended each game and represented G&D during the pregame.
Jake Allen – A donation of goalie equipment will be made this season to Allen’s Program34.
Mitch Marner – This December, together with the Marner Assist Fund, NHLPA Goals & Dreams will be announcing an equipment donation to York Region Police’s youth hockey program.
Brayden Schenn – NHLPA Goals & Dreams is working with Schenn to make an equipment donation to Saskatoon Kinsmen Hockey League, which will be announced this season.
Hundreds of former NHL players have also been involved in NHLPA Goals & Dreams donations since 1999, including Adrian Aucoin, Kevin Bieksa, Pavel Bure, Mike Gartner, Adam Graves, Dominik Hasek, Steve Larmer, Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Lundqvist, Kirk McLean, Glen Metropolit, Markus Naslund, Brooks Orpik, Dion Phaneuf, Chris Phillips, Mason Raymond, Wade Redden, Martin Rucinsky, P.J. Stock, Mats Sundin, Scott Walker, and many more.
Charitable Donations:
On top of equipment donations, NHLPA Goals & Dreams has made charitable contributions to numerous organizations over the last 25 years, including to Habitat for Humanity, World Vision, Red Cross, Alzheimer Society of Canada, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Easter Seals, and many others.
Kids Help Phone
After the third year of the Assists in Action initiative, NHLPA Goals & Dreams is contributing $101,318 to Kids Help Phone programming. For every assist by an NHL player during the 2023-24 regular season (13,616) and playoffs (858), G&D donated $7 to Kids Help Phone. While the NHLPA continues to work together closely with long-time partner Kids Help Phone, plans for additional initiatives in support of the services that KHP provides to Canadian youth will be announced this season.
Smilezone Foundation
At Smilezone Foundation’s golf tournament in July, it was announced by Adam Graves (Smilezone Foundation Co-Founder), Devin Smith (NHLPA Senior Director of Sponsorship & Player Marketing) and Ron Hainsey (NHLPA Assistant Executive Director) that NHLPA Goals & Dreams will contribute $150,000 to Smilezone Foundation on a new Smilezone project in the Edmonton area. This project will be unveiled later this winter.
Further Giving Back:
United Heroes League partnership
The players’ respect for military members and the sacrifices made by the people who serve has led to what is now a long-time partnership with the United Heroes League, an organization that supports military children to play sports. On top of working together on many hockey equipment donations, the All-Star Hero initiative has seen NHLPA Goals & Dreams and the UHL recognize military veterans and active servicepeople at four recent All-Star Games to provide unique experiences to the winners and a guest.
Kraft Hockeyville
Every year, the three Kraft Hockeyville finalist communities each receive $10,000 in equipment donations from NHLPA Goals & Dreams.
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